NASA has decided to abandon efforts to save the Swift Observatory, leaving the telescope to eventually re-enter the atmosphere and burn up later this year. The decision comes after Katalyst Space Technologies, in collaboration with NASA, encountered issues with their Link spacecraft, which was meant to rescue the observatory by boosting it to a safer orbit.
Due to difficulties in controlling the spacecraft, Katalyst announced that the Link would not be able to capture and maneuver Swift to a higher orbit. Consequently, Swift, which has been instrumental in studying gamma ray bursts and exploding stars for over two decades, will now succumb to its fiery fate, expected to occur no earlier than October.
NASA had invested $30 million in the rescue mission to prolong Swift’s operational life by adjusting its orbit. However, unforeseen solar activity caused the telescope to descend faster than anticipated. The Link spacecraft faced challenges shortly after its launch in July, entering an uncontrollable spin. Despite efforts to stabilize its trajectory, ongoing issues with pointing and positioning in orbit hindered the rescue mission’s success.
While the outcome is disappointing, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman emphasized the value of attempting the mission. As a silver lining, Katalyst will continue to operate the Link spacecraft near Swift to showcase its capabilities for potential future rescue missions.
Swift, launched in 2004, had its scientific instruments deactivated earlier this year to slow its descent. The observatory currently orbits at 345 kilometers, with the initial goal of raising it back to its original 600-kilometer orbit to extend its observational lifespan significantly.
Additionally, NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, facing similar orbital decay due to recent solar activity, was slated for a potential rescue mission following Swift’s. However, with Swift’s rescue mission abandoned, the fate of the aging Hubble remains uncertain.